Aspen Peak - Niche Media - Aspen living at its peak
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/205356
TASTE LIST left: The Cliffhouse at the top of Buttermilk. below: Long and Puckett on the slopes, sipping their 10 Carat Carrot and Bankrupt Butternut soups from their own In the Soup. NATURALLY INSPIRED Aspen's first and only 100 percent organic eatery is also irresistibly comforting. by amiee white beazley Ski In, Ski Out Yalonda Long and Casey Puckett, owners of In the Soup, select their top spots for mountain dining. At this see-and-be-seen hot spot it's advised to be seen with the lamb Bolognese, chicken liver pâté, and the best French onion soup in Aspen. Don't miss the Veuve and piping-hot truffle fries sprinkled with Parmesan. 685 E. Durant Ave., 970-920-6334; ajaxtavernaspen.com Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro There's nothing more divine than a bubbling pot of fondue and a warm mug of Glühwein at Cloud Nine, perched just below the Highland Bowl. Note: when dancing on a table in ski boots, you must have a spotter. Aspen Highlands, 76 Boomerang Road, 970-544-3063; aspensnowmass.com Aspen Mountain Club Eight K at Viceroy Snowmass Bonnie's Gwyn's High Alpine The Cliffhouse Sundeck on Aspen Mountain If you get invited to this private mountain club atop Aspen Mountain, go! It's Rocky Mountain elegant. Ski boots are traded for toasty wool slippers. Sipping hot cocoa in front of a blazing fireplace is high living. 675 E. Durant Ave., 970-920-6333; thelittlenell.com We love to bask in the sun on the deck at this local's hangout. It just doesn't get any better than a bluebird day with a big bowl of homemade soup, freshly baked bread, and world-famous apple strudel. Aspen Mountain, Downtown Core; 970-544-6252; aspensnowmass.com Street-style Mongolian barbecue, the kids love it and an otherworldly view of the Maroon Creek Valley. Need we say more? 38700 Highway 82, at the top of Summit Express and Tiehack Express lifts on Buttermilk Mountain, 970-925-1220; aspensnowmass.com The chic-sexy bar at Eight K is one part Vegas, one part ski resort. We order the Naked & Famous and Moscow Mule (think house-made ginger syrup). And chef Will Nolan's Andouille corn dogs are to die for. 130 Wood Road, Snowmass Village, 970-923-8000; viceroyhotelsandresorts.com On a snowy day, we ski over to warm up at Gwyn's. It's fun to grab a plastic tray, reminiscent of elementary school, and slide it down the bar until you order the wild game or Brunswick chicken stew. Snowmass Mountain, top of Alpine Springs lift, 970-923-5188; gwynshighalpine.com Casey's fastest time from mountain top down to The Little Nell is 128 seconds. At the Sundeck, I create a pad Thai concoction, grab Casey a Stella, and meet him at a table with a view—all in the time it takes him to take a lap. 1 Ajax Ave., top of Aspen Mountain, 970-544-9345; aspensnowmass.com AP Aspenites pine for the Spring Cafe's freshpressed juices. The Spring Cafe has recently opened in the new building at the corner of Spring and Hopkins. The sleek décor includes a clean, white interior and outdoor patio, and the restaurant has fast become a hot spot for breakfast and lunch among healthconscious Aspenites and visitors who understand "you are what you eat." Spring Cafe cooks with organic coldpressed oils, sea salt, and fresh herbs. It whips up pastries and desserts with spelt, almond, and oat flour; all baked goods are sweetened with low-glycemic coconut sugar, agave nectar, and maple syrup. Dairy products and eggs are locally sourced and cruelty-free. Since owner Sabrina Rudin opened her Aspen outpost, there has been a steady stream of locals pining for fresh-pressed juices, organic salads, hearty vegetarian sandwiches, smoothies, soups, and baked goods. And guests who suffer from food allergies or intolerances will find cashew cheddar cheese nachos and other allergyfree delights. Espresso? They've got that covered, too, with outstanding roasts from Defiant Bean Roasters in Glenwood Springs. Bon appétit! 119 S. Spring St., 970-429-8406; springcafeaspen.com photography by daniel bayer (cliffhouse); courtesy of yalonda long (long, puckett); jason dewey (spring cafe) Ajax Tavern 122 aspenpeak-magazine.com 122_AP_ST_TasteList_WIN13_SPR_14.indd 122 10/29/13 1:53 PM